New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

New Mexico Senate Bill SB160 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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28	28	SENATE BILL 160
29	29	57
30	30	TH LEGISLATURE
31	31	-
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33	33	STATE
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35	35	OF
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37	37	NEW
38	38
39	39	MEXICO
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41	41	-
42	42	FIRST SESSION
43	43	,
44	44
45	45	2025
46	46	INTRODUCED BY
47	47	Antonio Maestas
48	48	AN ACT
49	49	RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; REQUIRING THAT EACH SCHOOL
50	50	DISTRICT AND CHARTER SCHOOL ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT A POLICY FOR
51	51	THE USE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES BY STUDENTS IN PUBLIC
52	52	SCHOOLS; REQUIRING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE
53	53	POLICY GUIDELINES; REQUIRING POLICY EVALUATIONS.
54	54	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
55	55	SECTION 1. A new section of the Public School Code is
56	56	enacted to read:
57	57	"[NEW MATERIAL] WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE--
58	58	DEFINITION--POLICY--USE OF DEVICE BY STUDENTS.--
59	59	A. As used in this section, "wireless communication
60	60	device" means a portable electronic device capable of
61	61	transmitting voice, text or data, including a:
62	62	(1) cellular phone or smartphone;
63	63	.229396.1 underscored material = new
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90	90	(2) tablet computer;
91	91	(3) laptop computer; or
92	92	(4) gaming device.
93	93	B. No later than August 1, 2025, each school
94	94	district and charter school shall adopt and implement a
95	95	wireless communication device policy. The department shall
96	96	issue guidelines outlining the minimum requirements for a
97	97	wireless communication device policy, including that a policy
98	98	shall:
99	99	(1) prohibit a student from using a wireless
100	100	communication device during instructional hours;
101	101	(2) authorize a teacher to permit a student to
102	102	use a wireless communication device for educational purposes
103	103	during instructional hours;
104	104	(3) permit a student to use a wireless
105	105	communication device in the event of an emergency or to manage
106	106	the student's health care;
107	107	(4) permit a student to use a wireless
108	108	communication device for accessibility purposes, including
109	109	text-to-speech, speech-to-text or other assistive technologies
110	110	that aid in communication, navigation or learning;
111	111	(5) provide protections for student privacy
112	112	and confidentiality related to the permissible use of a
113	113	wireless communication device at school;
114	114	(6) provide for the permissible use of a
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143	143	wireless communication device during non-instructional hours;
144	144	and
145	145	(7) provide for consequences for violation of
146	146	the wireless communication device policy.
147	147	C. After proper notification requirements for a
148	148	public meeting are satisfied, each school district or charter
149	149	school shall hold at least one public meeting, in person or
150	150	virtually, to allow for public comment regarding a proposed
151	151	wireless communication device policy.
152	152	D. A wireless communication device policy adopted
153	153	and implemented pursuant to this section shall not prohibit a
154	154	student from using a wireless communication device during
155	155	instructional hours if the use of the device is a medical
156	156	necessity, an accommodation for a student with a disability or
157	157	included in a student's individualized education program.
158	158	E. Upon adoption of a wireless communication device
159	159	policy, each school district or charter school shall publish
160	160	the policy on the school district's or charter school's
161	161	website.
162	162	F. School districts and charter schools shall
163	163	annually evaluate the effectiveness of their respective
164	164	wireless communication device policies and shall report the
165	165	findings to the department.
166	166	G. School districts and charter schools shall
167	167	provide training for teachers, administrators and staff on the
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196	196	effective implementation of the wireless communication device
197	197	policy, and the policy shall be communicated to students and
198	198	parents upon implementation and on an ongoing basis at the
199	199	beginning of each school year."
200	200	SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the
201	201	provisions of this act is July 1, 2025.
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